TLDR: the recent changes to the TrainerRoad app are fantastic!
I first used TR about 7 years ago and got really fit as a result of following their low volume training plan. However I also developed a lot of fatigue which led to repeatedly getting ill so I stopped using it and never went back. Afterall, it seemed a little boring in comparison to the competition.
But I started using it again in January this year as I was intrigued by some of the changes that I'd heard about, and it's been a revelation. I'm not only getting fitter but it feels completely sustainable for my health. This is why:
- The masters plans have one easy session a week and regular recovery weeks.
- The plan accounts for my outdoor rides and adjusts accordingly.
- The new traffic light system encourages rest when I might have otherwise gone for a ride.
My rate of progress has been much slower than 7 years ago but I feel like I could train this way indefinitely, and build fitness incrementally, year on year. This is really significant for me as I have trouble with allergies and a low immune system so training consistency has always been a challenge.
I'm sorry if this sounds like a trainerroad ad but I've tried quite a few different apps recently (zwift, wahoo systm, join, and xert) all of which have things to recommend them but none of them feel quite so helpful or adaptive to my needs. (As an aside, this is possibly the best example of machine learning that I've come across because it feels genuinely smart and useful). And if that wasn't quite enough, never having to take a ramp test or one of those godawful wahoo 4dp tests is joyous. Although I do still have to turn the pedals, and it still hurts, but only at the right time, in the right dose.
Does it take account of a non-training (non-Trainer road) outdoor ride?
I did a month of Trainer Road back in January, then switched to Zwift, but to be honest, I have trouble sticking with indoor riding.
I don't remember a traffic light system back in January, and don't recall it taking account of outdoor rides neither, unless they were Trainer Road rides done outdoors.
Interesting to read.
must admit I’ve struggled to get into Zwift this winter so thinking about trying something different next year.
I've been using it for a couple of years but I had the same experience of there being too many high intensity days and no accounting for outside rides. It would lead to you having to miss lots of sessions to avoid overtraining. The new AI process seems to be pretty sensitive to load. I did a fairly big MTB ride today and it's said to go easy until Wednesday which is so different from the previous Tuesday prescription of vo2 or high threshold every week. I've actually started following the red light green light process. Only thing it's not great for is increasing workload for a short period as it will probably stick me straight into the red and keep me there. You still need to know your own body and schedule.
Love their podcast too, they're a quality outfit.
nothing wrong with the 4DP or half monty tests.
If you don't do a FTP test how do you set your power zones?
Trainerroad has AI FTP detection now, it's supposed to be pretty solid.
TR user here as well and also a big fan of it.
There is an AI FTP detection tool which you can use every month or so which recalculates your FTP based on activity. It includes all rides with power in the calculation (even unstructured rides) so if you have a PM it will include it.
You can mark outdoor workouts as complete without a PM and it will include the adaptations you would get from that session even without power. It's been a couple of years since I have failed a workout so am confident the combination of progression levels and AI FTP detection re pretty accurate.
Another vote for the podcasts as well, have learned so much about feeling, rest and the ins and outs of how to tackle an event. Think it costs about 18quid a month and using it along with the podcasts feels pretty close to having a coach. There is an episode on everything I have searched for. Even things like prep for travelling to a events etc.
Does the outdoor ride have to be done with a power meter?
Interesting comments from the OP I’ve never tried one of these programs but all seem to have the flaws described here
Do you need regular max efforts at various durations for AI to work correctly?
Recent convert to Trainerroad here.
I pair it with Zwift for the visual entertainment (got 1 year free of Zwift thanks to Wahoo). I've tried Zwift workouts but rarely make it beyond a couple of weeks before giving up, same with the Wahoo/Sufferfest ones.
I'm on a low intensity plan with Trainerroad so only use it 3x a week but in the last 8 weeks have seen an FTP increase from 201-235. I do 3.5 hours a week which works well for me due to lack of time and being generally unfit anyway although I have recently been adding 90-120 mins of z2 endurance work outside of the plan that I am on.
Can't comment on the riding outside part of it as I only use a turbo for my riding at the moment.